Month: November 2016

For all the times my kids drive me insane…the times when they are screaming at one another to leave the other alone, the times they are bickering back and forth that they are going to tell on one another, and then begin a new argument on who is going to tell on whom first, for the times I intervene and make them separate and then want to rip my ears off after because they are crying uncontrollably for one another and then get pissed at me, because “How could you be so mean and take my brother/sister from me?”And for all the times they drive me so crazy that I have to send them outside and tell them not to come in…..THIS moment, and moments like these totally cancel out all those crazy annoying times when I want to rip my hair out and down a bottle of wine at 8 in the morning. This is true love for your sibling when you are willing to sit with them while they are pooping because they don’t want to be alone. Moments like this just make me giggle and full of Mom joy, pat on the back for good parenting, and love for my crazy, compassionate, sometimes drive me to the end of my rope, amazing kiddos.

I love having salad because they are quick and refreshing. But….sometimes the dressings alone is like eating a Big Mac. I often make my own dressing (oil, vinegar, and seasoning of choice), or I will just use lemon juice or another citrus juice. So much better than the tons of sugars and calories other dressings have. If you must buy your dressing (but I urge you to just try to make your own! Easy on the oil, or use the lemon juice), you will not buy dressing again. But if you do buy it, check the sugar content. Simple sugars are your nemesis. I am talking really low sugars….no more than 5, and watch the amount you put on. Most of the time, the nutrition facts account for one tablespoon, and I can guarantee your putting more than that. Beef up your salad with some boiled egg, nuts, or turkey for protein,and some good fats like avocado. I also like to add fruit to mine to give it a little bit of sweet and radishes for crunch. However you make your salad, put good wholesome ingredients and leave the sugared dressings out.

So I am still in search for this damn Hatchimal toy, and I have been literally everywhere. The other day I drove over two hours, just for the lady to tell me that some woman came and bought the last 4! There is supposed to be a limit!!!! I have been checking at all hours of the night online, and even waking up at 2 in the morning and 4 in the morning to check online as well….all to end up empty handed. Well this morning I saw that my local store that is 2 seconds from me had 6 in stock. It opened at 8 and it was 8:15…what would I do with the kids? I homeschool and my husband leaves to go to work before 6!!! Well I came up with a nifty plan, and decided to try my luck, figuring because it is a week day, most people would be headed to work. I got there with my plan, and boy did I get crazy looks, thats okay, I figured I would and besides I have never been the type of person who really cared what others thought of me anyway. Some people laughed and I had one Mom praise me and tell me she was putting this idea in the books for her. I found an employee and stopped him to show him the picture of the hatcnhimal on my phone so I wouldn’t have to ask out loud, he looked at me and then at my kids, and then at me again. Shook his head and laughed, then whispered that they were all gone, and that they go really fast. With a sigh I turned away, my journey ending leaving me empty handed yet again…BUT I will not give up!

I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving! I made some yummy sliders form leftovers. Yesterday I cooked for 7 hours and then stood in line for a Hatchimal that I did not get(multiple times). Ugh I keep saying I am living the Jingle All the Way movie and in search of Turbo Man. I normally do not stress myself out with the holiday chaos and I stick to online shopping. Plus it is easier being a homeschool Mom, whose kids are constantly attached to you. BUT, because this is the one toy my daughter wants, I am participating in the madness, as well as all of you other parents who I know some of you are in the same boat over this damn toy. Seriously all it is, is a furby, can I just get that and then paper mache an egg around it and call it good? So to all of you running out being crazy today, good luck on your endeavors, be safe, try not to karate chop anyone in the throat, and carry a flask!

Starting something is always the hardest part. It can be anything from working out, a new job, a home project, a better eating lifestyle…whatever it is, its the starting hump that is always such a pain to get over. But once you get going, once you are over that hump, it starts to get easier. You get a groove and soon enough it is a routine just like brushing your teeth. So I am here to tell you to start. Just do it! Don’t overthink it, don’t pity yourself, and don’t make excuses! Just start!
We have all been there, I am nearly there now. After coming off of an injury I was super depressed and definitely not motivated. All the hard work I put in at the gym was gone. I got most discouraged when I couldn’t even do body weight stuff. Sometimes simply just walking or sitting a certain way, would trigger my back and I would be in a whole bunch of pain. I got stressed and started eating unhealthy because I figured “what’s the point right?”. I started having anxiety and breathing problems and was spiraling in my own self loathing. When I realized that I couldn’t keep up the energy with my kids, I started to realize I was making myself unhappy. Working out to me is a stress reliever, it calms and soothes me, it gives me energy, makes me feel younger. So I stopped my pity party and as hard as it was, I started from beyond square one. Yes that is a place! I was way more weak than I was years ago when I first started lifting weights…BUT I did not let this discourage or stop me! I went full speed, 0-60 and drove right through the starting line.
As I said, I let my eating habits go when I could no longer work out due to my injury. The biggest mistake people make when they want to make healthy life style changes is start working out and go on a diet. DO NOT DO THIS!!! Jumping in fully to two life changes at once will not work, you will fail, and then you will give up hope and say screw it. Start with one or the other, but ditch the diet craze altogether. Make changes to your grocery list a little at a time. Instead of sweets, by fruit. I use almond milk instead of regular, but when I do use regular milk I splurge and by organic, I don’t need (nor do my kids) any extra added hormones or other unnatural crap in my milk. I buy ezekiel or whole grain bread (I and my kids both love the bread flats, 100 calories and way less sugar). You don’t have to spend a crap load of money to eat healthy, trust me we are a military family and we manage it. Your biggest nemeses is sugar. Don’t rely on front labels, always check the back. When you start your life style change, start by slowly lowering your sugar intake. Start by calculating how much you typically eat in a day, and gradually start cutting it down. Even if its 10g a week, it is better than what you were starting at. Gradual remember! Simple sugars are okay, they don’t store in the bad zone. So fruit is okay to go, but just don’t overindulge, overindulging in anything is bad. Moderation is key! Sticking to the outside aisles in the grocery store is best, buy ingredients you can read.
I personally like to start with working out before I make changes to my food. Reason being is when I work out the endorphins that are being released, even on day 1 make me feel amazing. After a week, even if visually my physical changes are minimal, the way I feel is all that matters. Knowing that working out can make me feel better, eating better will certainly up that high, so after about week 2 I will start to make food switches. Fruit for my sweet tooth, greek yogurt to replace sour cream, lettuce wraps to occasionally replace bread, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, brown rice, lots of veggies, chicken, ground turkey, eggs, protein, protein, PROTEIN!!!! Cut the sugar intake, raise the protein intake, it is that simple. Once your body becomes strong and your mood increases, changes will be easier. You will still have struggles and thats okay, my motto is have a bite or two of that sweet your craving, I promise you most of the time, thats all you will need. I feel it better to take in moderation then to deny yourself because when you deny yourself you want it more.
The main ingredient to all of these changes or any change is you. Do it for yourself and no one else. Don’t do it for anyone else! Become strong, not skinny, the goal is to be healthy. You can do it, I know you can. In the world today, everyone is kicking each other down, rather than building one another up. It is my mission to build up every person I possibly can. I will be your cheerleader, shoot me a message and I will personally take the time every day to send you some quick words of motivation because again, I believe in you and I want you to succeed. You can do it!!! Ready, set, START!
(starting from the beginning but I started!!!)

As a parent you are always trying to do whats best for your kids. Sometimes it turns out great (those rare moments) and others not so great and your the worst parent ever! Well those “super moon” rare days of amazing parenting where you feel like your on top of the world and hey you actually are doing pretty great! Way to go mom! Pat yourself on the back. Yeah those kind of moments, I take in and I have to share them, because it’s moments like these when I KNOW that I did something right. My kiddos woke up on the right side of the bed this morning, cuddling in my daughters bed, then she got them both muffins for breakfast that I made yesterday, and she made them chocolate milk. As she did this my son fed all three dogs while I let them all outside and prepared my coffee. Hmmm my immediate thought was “what do they want?” But I dare not even ask and ruin this! I started them on school and started to prepare my crock pot for tonights dinner. Wyatt had a question and my hands were a complete mess so I told him hold on and I would help him in a minute. After I cleaned my hands I look to see that Madison has so graciously decided to help him…I waited for the screams from him to say he didn’t want her help, which is usually what happens, but instead……he took her help and thanked her for it!!! What the what!?!?!? His words, thank you so much Madison that’s sweet. And she replied no problem bubba, you did so good, I am actually really impressed with how you wrote out your number 4’s. As I stood in shock only to realize I had few seconds left to capture this moment on camera (but forever captured in my head and heart), I realized I may not be the perfect Mom, and I may mess up….a lot! But I am a damn good one, and I am doing something right!